cliff because you don't want to send that message to the markets. but then behind the scenes you sort of get the feeling they'd be willing to do it and they'd be okay at least temporarily having everything sort of default to that zero position we'd have on january 3rd and then negotiating with the new congress. >> well, the game yesterday, at least, seemed to be who's really serious about fixing the problem. let me play for you what harry reid said. >> he says that democrats have got to get serious about cuts, spending cuts. where's the disconnect, then? >> i don't understand his brain, so you should ask him. okay? >> there was an opening offer, as you know, molly, from the president. i want to put it up. $1.6 trillion in tax increases, $50 billion in stimulus spending, $400 billion in medicare entitlement savings. again, an opening offer, but, you know, the question republicans are asking is, like, what's really negotiable here? and do you think that joy-ann is right, these are just both sides playing to their base at this point when in truth they